saiga question

What the heck is that bolt hold open good for if it doesn't hold open on teh alst shot?

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Redlg155

March 15, 2004, 08:44 AM

About the only use I've found is that it is good at the range where the action needs to be open before folks can go downrange.

Other than that it keeps to the traditional AK action....shoot till ya "click" dry.

Good Shooting
Red

rde

March 15, 2004, 10:18 PM

As I understand...correct...some ranges are very strict about verifying that the bolt is locked open on an empty chamber before letting anyone step off the line.

mrapathy2000

March 16, 2004, 12:05 AM

believe their are magazines that have a tab connected to the follower that makes the gun hold open after last round is fired.

Redlg155

March 16, 2004, 02:03 AM

On my .308 Saiga the bolt hold open is manually operated, meaning you must engage it. If I'm not mistaken, the Ruger 10-22 is the same in this sense.

With conventional weapons the "bolt hold open" is manually as well as mechanically operated, usually by a projection on the follower.

Sooo..unless there is something wrong with mine, you need to push the bolt hold open up to engage it.

Good Shooting
Red

chapperjoe

March 16, 2004, 07:12 AM

You misunderstood....
All i asked was wha tthe point of a BHO was if it didn't hold open on teh last shot?

The saiga BHO is manually operated, yes.
What's the point?
Will special mag followers hold open on last shot?
What happens when you take those empty mags out?

eatatjoes

March 16, 2004, 07:29 AM

About the only use I've found is that it is good at the range where the action needs to be open before folks can go downrange.
seems to me that is the answer to your first question.
Will special mag followers hold open on last shot?
What happens when you take those empty mags out?
yes
the bolt slams forward like normal since there is no actual hold-open on the firearm.

shoobe01

March 16, 2004, 09:37 AM

Note that I have no experience with your specific model of gun. Most or all of what follows could be wrong:

However, I do recall that the few AKs that do have the bolt hold open also required magazines with "bolt-holding" followers. In the past they would come with at least one of those, but there is a lot of mag swapping with the cap limit, so you might not have gotten one.

I have managed to fix handguns that were picky about locking the slide by adding to or bending the follower slightly; you might look at the bolt hold open latch and figure out where it might hit on the follower. Also, try calling a huge-AK-geek-place like K-Var and see if they can get you a mag or followers that work for this.

Murphster

March 16, 2004, 09:38 AM

On my .308 Saiga (which I sold after a month), it took some major horsepower to pull the bolt back with a full magazine in the gun. The bolt hold open made it easier and much less embarassing. Wrestling the bolt back with other shooters in the area didn't create any Saiga fans at my range. Nor did watching the bolt creep forward in slow motion after you rreleased it. No offense to Saigas which are reliable guns, but it seems to be a cheating way to get around a bit a design flaw. Since no other large caliber semi-auto I ever owned required so much force to chamber a round, I suspect there something not-quite-perfect in either the mag design or in using the AK frame as a .308 base. Gun functioned with 100% reliability however.

Master Blaster

March 16, 2004, 09:43 AM

I have one.

Its an AK action, AKs dont have a last shot hold open feature, they put a manual hold open on the saiga, for the range etc. I like it better than jamming a shell casing in the bolt to show clear like on my AK.

As far as I know there is no special mag or follower availible that will actuate the hold open on the last shot. Saiga mags for .308 are proprietary only Saiga makes them and only in 8 rounds.

If anyone has a source for 20 rounders hold open or not let me know!!!

I dont have any trouble chambering rounds in mine bolt open or not, yes if you insert a full mag with the action closed it takes a little more force to chamber a round, thats normal for a semi auto with the action closed and a full mag.

Gun functioned with 100% reliability however.

Mine is 100% also (300 rounds last count), Its an AK in .308 at a very reasonable price, the only drawback is no highcaps. Maybe that will change in september.:D

Sharpshooter223

March 16, 2004, 11:21 AM

I never complain about the bolt hold. Especially when i'm running a rod down the barrel. It would take two people to do it without one. :D

TimH

March 16, 2004, 09:53 PM

I heard that the trigger pull was kinda funky on the Saiga in .308 Any opinions on that? What about the 7.62 & the .223 versions?

mrapathy2000

March 16, 2004, 10:16 PM

dont know bout stock 308 trigger. the 223 version is ok. if you get trigger slap a buffer can help that. can do some work to cure it. you can also install standard ak trigger group and pistol grip and some other parts if you want. some requirements though. should have 4-5 parts made in the USA.

TimH

March 17, 2004, 07:24 AM

I heard the trigger pull was kind of "up" on the .308 I'm probably not describing that right but....:rolleyes:

Master Blaster

March 17, 2004, 10:01 AM

The trigger sort of moves up as you squeeze it. I could describe mine as a 2 stage trigger 1.5lb takeup and a 3.0lb release Its a good trigger for a military gun, and seems to be improving with use. Its not a match grade target gun though. As far as trigger slap, it doesnt have any. Trigger slap as I understand it is caused by the incorrect hammer design, (one for the full auto eversion of the AK called the RPK ) which has an extra piece of metal needed for the full auto version, being used as a replacement by the angry monkeys at some of the US importers who replace the trigger group to meet the Bush I import ban requirements for US parts. I have a 2003 SAR-1 from Century and it has the correct hammer in it and after 500 rounds still no trigger slap, so they did get the message and redesign their fire control group.

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